Nuevo Cuscatlán Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Nuevo Cuscatlán

Municipality

Nuevo Cuscatlan

Nuevo Cuscatlán

Flag

Nickname(s):

La Joya

Nuevo Cuscatlán

Location in El Salvador

Country

El Salvador

Department

La Libertad

Founded

1853

Town Incorporated

2005

Seat

Mayor

Area

• Municipality

15.61 km² (6.03 sq mi)

Elevation

969 m (3,179 ft)

Population

(2012)

• Municipality

7,895

• Density

505.77/km² (1,309.9/sq mi)

• Urban

7,895 hab.

Demonym(s)

neocuscatleco, -ca

Time zone

UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)

Nuevo Cuscatlán is a town in El Salvador. It is part of the La Libertad area. This town is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) away from San Salvador, the capital city.

Nuevo Cuscatlán shares borders with other towns. To the north and east, it borders Antiguo Cuscatlán. To the south, it borders Huizúcar and San José Villanueva. To the west, it borders Santa Tecla.

In 2012, about 7,895 people lived in Nuevo Cuscatlán. The town covers an area of 15.61 square kilometers (6.03 square miles). It is located about 920 meters (3,018 feet) above sea level. The area has a dry tropical climate. Temperatures usually range from 18°C to 32°C (64°F to 90°F) throughout the year.

History of Nuevo Cuscatlán
Economy and Business
Education and Learning
Culture and Traditions
Religion
Sports and Recreation
Etymology
Images for kids
See also

History of Nuevo Cuscatlán

Nuevo Cuscatlán was officially started on April 11, 1853. The president at that time, Francisco Dueñas Díaz, ordered a new town to be built. It was first called Joya Grande. The land belonged to a person named Don Francisco Escalón.

The first people to live there came from a nearby valley called Valle de la Joya. They also came from Antiguo Cuscatlán and other close places. On September 6, 1854, the town was officially named Nuevo Cuscatlán.

In January 1865, Nuevo Cuscatlán became part of the La Libertad area. A report from May 23, 1865, showed that 416 people lived there. The town was given the title of "town" on September 7, 2005. Later, in 2016, the government of El Salvador gave Nuevo Cuscatlán the title of "city."

Economy and Business

Aerial view, Cuscatlan Boulevard

Coffee farming is a very important part of Nuevo Cuscatlán's economy. Many coffee farms are found around the city. A road called Boulevard Cuscatlán was built, which helped connect Nuevo Cuscatlán with other towns like Huizúcar and Antiguo Cuscatlán. This road made it easier for businesses to connect.

Nuevo Cuscatlán has worked hard to grow its local economy. It has created new ways to help businesses and create jobs. This has made the city known for being modern and growing.

Here are some of the main shopping centers in Nuevo Cuscatlán:

Los Suenos Mall
Las Palmas Mall
La Joya Mall
New Cuscatlan Municipal Market
Greenside Plaza
Paradise Square

In 2013, the local government started a company called NUCU. This company helps women in Nuevo Cuscatlán make and sell local crafts. The city has also seen a lot of growth in building new homes and businesses. Many new residential and commercial buildings have been built.

Some of these new projects include:

Infinity Tower
LIFE
Park Tower
Epic Plaza (still being built)
Salamanca Events

Education and Learning

Nuevo Cuscatlán has several schools for its young people. There are three public schools near the town center. These are Pedro Pablo Castillo School Center, Hacienda Florencia School Center, and Caserío El Cajón School Center. There is also a private school called Cuscatlán Bilingual School.

A scholarship program was started to help young people from Nuevo Cuscatlán go to college. These scholarships help pay for their university studies. Students can choose any university and any career they want. In return, they help out in the town's communities that need it most.

The town also started building its first public library. In 2015, Nuevo Cuscatlán was recognized for having very few people who couldn't read or write. It was the third town in the La Libertad area to achieve this.

Culture and Traditions

Nuevo Cuscatlán celebrates its main festivals on March 19. These celebrations honor San José, the town's patron saint. During the festivities, parades march through the main streets. A queen for the celebrations is also chosen. These events are filled with music and fireworks.

In August, the San José church holds a special Corn Festival. At this festival, you can find many foods made from corn. These include atol (a warm corn drink), tamales, corn on the cob, riguas (corn pancakes), and pupusas (thick corn tortillas with fillings).

Outside of Nuevo Cuscatlán, there is a place called the Salamanca complex. This place is often used for different cultural events. It hosts concerts and markets where local entrepreneurs sell their goods.

Religion

The town has two Catholic churches: the San Juan de la Cruz parish and the San José parish. There are also four evangelical churches. These include the New Cuscatlán Christian Church, the Kemuel Church, and the New Cuscatlán Church of Tabernáculo Bíblico Bautista Amigos de Israel.

Sports and Recreation

Nuevo Cuscatlán offers many places for people to play sports. The main sports area is the Nuevo Cuscatlán Stadium. Other places include the Florencia field, La Joya field, and the Santa Elena sportcenter.

The town is also home to a private sports complex called BeSport. This complex has a swimming pool, soccer fields, paddle courts, basketball courts, and even a cricket area.

Etymology

The name Cuscatlán comes from the Nahuatl language. It means "country of medals" or "city-jewel." This is because "Cuzcat" means jewel, necklace, wealth, or medal. "Tan" or "Tlan" is a word ending that means "place of."